UNIZIK Lecturers Protest Over Five Years of Unpaid Salaries

 

Lecturers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, have taken to the streets in protest over the non-payment of their salaries for five years. The affected lecturers, consisting mainly of staff recruited between 2019 and 2021, lamented the severe hardship they have endured due to the prolonged wage denial.

The aggrieved lecturers accused the federal government and the university management of negligence, stating that despite repeated appeals, their plight has been ignored. Some of the protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as "Five years without pay – how do we survive?" and "We are workers, not slaves!"

Speaking during the protest, one of the affected lecturers expressed frustration over the situation, stating:

"We have dedicated our time and expertise to the university, yet we have not been paid for years. Many of us struggle to feed our families, pay rent, and meet basic needs. The government must take urgent action."

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIZIK chapter, has also weighed in on the matter, calling for an immediate resolution. According to ASUU, the affected lecturers were duly employed following due process but were excluded from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), leading to their salary arrears.

In response, the university management acknowledged the situation and attributed the delay to bureaucratic bottlenecks within the federal government’s payroll system. A representative assured that efforts were being made to resolve the issue and urged the lecturers to remain patient.

Meanwhile, education stakeholders have condemned the non-payment of salaries, warning that such actions could demoralize lecturers and affect the quality of education at the institution. They urged the government to prioritize the welfare of university staff to prevent further disruption in the education sector.

As the protests continue, the affected lecturers have vowed to intensify their demands until their salaries are paid in full.